Communication

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my imagination

Starting point: Season Three, E2 - The crew on the alternate Enterprise have to come to terms with the fact they can't return to their own time and find a reason to go on.

Beta: Thanks to my wonderful husband for reading this and his many suggestions/improvements. Any errors found in the story are as a result of my inability to leave well alone and are therefore completely my fault!

Author's Notes: Communication is the sequel of my story entitled Connections. I have included a brief summary of Connections to set the scene for this story. All Vulcan words sourced with thanks from the Vulcan Language Dictionary.

Warning – Please note that there will be a main character death in Communication however I will not be deviating from what was established as canon by the Season Three episode entitled E2.

The story so far:

The crew of Enterprise had discovered a small out of the way planet with primitive docking facilities. Therefore they were able to complete urgent repairs to the ship, whilst also exploring the planet. There was evidence of past habitation but all indications were that it had long been deserted making it a safe haven for the crew to rest and recover from the recent trauma of battle.

Phlox reported the loss of Trip and T'Pol's DNA samples to Captain Archer and Lieutenant Reed and Archer decided to keep the matter a secret while Reed was tasked with making further discrete enquiries. Reed found evidence to implicate Ensign Masaro but he did not share this information as he knew he would have to explain how he had known what to look for. Reed was a member of a secret organization tasked with the protection of Earth at all costs. He had worked as spy for that organization while serving as an officer on the Enterprise. However to salve his conscience Reed made a full confession which he left among his personal documents to be opened just before the descendants of the crew began their mission to destroy the Xindi probe.

While on the planet investigating a mysterious metallic object Trip and T'Pol were able to accept that a Vulcan mate bond had formed between them and they had started to explore what this meant for their relationship. However unknown to them, deep beneath the surface of the planet an elderly being was watching them with a fascinated intensity via a hidden security system.

Chapter One

Two weeks after Enterprise had first been tethered to the space dock in orbit above the planet, her outer hull was patched up, most of the systems including the transporter were fully operational and the warp engines were being overhauled

And an ever lengthening list of urgently required supplies and equipment was being compiled...

Crewman Willis had volunteered to work with Ensign Masaro in the port nacelle control room realigning the Warp field coils. He was not in the mood for company and knew the much maligned Ensign hated small talk. There wasn't even the need to liaise with the crew on the outer hull who were finishing work on the damaged nacelle housings. Their chatter was simply relayed through to Willis and Masaro to ensure they knew where the space-side teams were.

Crewman Matt Willis was a Starfleet man through and through. He was in his early forties, of slight build with graying black hair although physically he could more than hold his own with the younger crew. Promotion had never been his prime interest and his only ambition had been to be one of the best crewmen in engineering maintenance. He achieved his goal when he won a coveted place on the Warp Five program.

No matter how hard he worked Willis could not blot out his memories of the day Enterprise had returned to earth after the unwarranted Xindi attack. They had found a world in shock wounded by a brutal scar and a terrible death toll amounting to millions of innocent human beings. Whenever he took his mind off the tabulations on the PADD he was working on, Willis imagined he saw his wife Marion's face reflected on the screen, her eyes consumed with fear. He remembered how tightly he had clung to his two beautiful daughters, Sophia and Alexis, that day. Although he had known they were safe, living far away from the massive fault line of destruction it was only when he could see and touch his family that he had been able to overcome his anxiety for their safety.

Marion had not wanted him to volunteer for the mission to the Expanse to search for the Xindi. She argued Captain Archer would not expect a family man to abandon his children to go on what could only be a suicide mission. However the thought that a rookie might be called to fill what was his rightful position and compromise their chances of success was an unbearable weight on his shoulders. In his heart Willis knew he could not wait at home if this was the only chance they had to stop the destruction of Earth.

Marion had tried everything to get him to stay. She even accused him of not loving his family enough, of putting Starfleet ahead of them. Although in the end she accepted that he had no other choice but to go. When he left his family behind he had known from the deep sadness in Marion's voice as she said goodbye that she did not expect to see him again.

Among the engineering crew Willis had had a special place in his heart for Crewman Taylor. In her he saw what he hoped for his daughters when they reached adulthood. He had been there when they found Taylor's charred remains in the corridor outside her quarters. One more tragic waste of life among the many but she'd meant so much to him. It had been almost unbearable when he had helped carry her to join the rest of the dead laid out in the Sick Bay. He had never recovered and it felt as though he was disconnected from those who still lived, as with each breath he envied the dead.

As Willis had become estranged from his friends, he found himself drawn to Ensign Masaro. They had had a very enlightening conversation the night before. Masaro pointed out that the Captain had failed them all when he allowed a Xindi to come on board Enterprise. The Xindi responsible for the probe that killed millions and who had designed the weapon of the Earth's planned annihilation had stood on the bridge side by side with their Captain.

Masaro asked all the right questions: What if Degra had intended to lead them into a trap? Had he not suggested the wormhole as a short cut to make a rendezvous? Did Degra know they would be sent back in time? What if going back in time had altered everything, giving the Xindi the chance to destroy Earth while they were left stranded?

The solution Masaro offered Willis was breathtaking and it appealed to his grief stricken mind. Masaro wanted the crew to rise up against the Captain who had failed them so badly and take control of the Enterprise. They could then return to an Earth that was in the midst of the destructive third World war. The prize of Warp technology would be used as a bargaining tool to bring a halt to hostilities. Their actions would change Earth's history for the better as Humans would not have to wait for the arrogant Vulcans to offer their reluctant assistance in order to develop Terran interstellar spaceships.

Willis knew that they would have to move carefully to gather a group of like minded people to their cause. He was already filing away names of a few engineering crewmen who he thought might be persuaded to their way of thinking.

Enterprise was being made ready for its mission to trade with alien planets to obtain the supplies they desperately needed. Masaro and Willis hoped the mission would highlight to the crew the duplicitous nature of aliens who would be eager to make a profit from Human misfortune. It would make their message that the Captain's cowardly plan to hide out in the Expanse was very wrong, much easier to deliver.

T'Pol stood in front of her bathroom mirror staring at her reflection as she conducted an in-depth examination of her emotional state. The fact she was indulging in an act of self indulgent introspection had not escaped her notice. However it was imperative that she consider the truth of her dearest hopes and deepest fears because without this knowledge T'Pol knew her relationship with Trip would not progress.

When they had accepted that they were bound to each other as life mates T'Pol had instigated a daily mediation and neuropressure regime as a way to get to know each other better. However their encounters were becoming increasingly erotic and this was particularly unsettling for T'Pol because the remembrance of their first sexual intercourse still filled her with shame. Shame that she had acted under the influence of Trellium D and the heightened jealously it had triggered in her. Through their bond T'Pol could sense that Trip longed to be able to touch her in a way that would demonstrate just how much she meant to him. She also knew he found it difficult to understand her concern about loosing control when they had already experienced unrestrained and passionate physical intimacy.

Yesterday during the Khavorta posture when her fingers were working on the neural nodes at the back of Trip's jaw, he had been able to initiate a joining of minds and the images associated with that encounter still made the tips of T'Pol's delicately pointed ears tinge with vivid green.

*They were so close she could sense his warm breath on her face. Trip had stared at her, complementing her on the angular beauty of her face and the softness of the deep rich brown of her eyes. He had then cupped her face in his hands and leant in to gently cover her skin with little electric shock kisses. The peace of the zone had been disturbed from calm white to vivid blue as she experienced his longing for her. Then T'Pol felt the heat of desire building within her and she had chosen not to back away from the emotion. Instead she had parted her lips signaling the invitation for him to join his to them…*

Suddenly Trip had hesitated and then retreated, his uncertainty flooding the bond. T'Pol felt a sharp stab of hurt and confusion which was so powerful she only just managed to stop the transmission of those sensations to him while her mind tumbled abruptly away from their link.

T'Pol accepted that even with their shared telepathic bond it was highly probable that there would always be misunderstandings between them. In fact it was their conversation following the disruption of yesterday's neuropressure session that had been the catalyst for her current introspection…

They had remained seated opposite each other with their knees almost touching after Trip severed the link between them. T'Pol's hands that so recently had been touching his jaw were folded neatly in her lap. The glow of the mediation candles had bathed them in a soft light as they stared silently at each other.

Although T'Pol was confused and hurt by his actions she managed to formulate what she considered to be an appropriate response to break the tension between them.

"The use of our bond to replicate physical intimacy is acceptable as a way to enhance our understanding of each other. Eventually once I grow more accustomed to the constant barrage of emotions you emit we can work towards full sexual relations."

Trip had regarded her through narrowed eyes as she realized her attempt to placate him had not been successful and she sensed that he was fighting a loosing battle to control his growing frustration.

"Sorry T'Pol but we've already had sexual relations. I may only be a simple human but aren't we going about this the wrong way. We've already been intimate but now I'm not allowed to touch you! I thought the bond was supposed to make things easier but I feel you are giving me nothing, that you're shutting me out!"

T'Pol had been surprised by the intensity of her reaction to the accusation that she was holding herself back from him. Her voice betrayed a little of her self righteous ire in its brusqueness, "I allowed you to stimulate my mind in a pleasurable manner and I also indicated that I was agreeable to you increasing the intensity of your ministrations. Must I remind you that you were the one who terminated our contact?"

Suddenly Trip had started to giggle which quickly developed into uncontrollable laughter. The more bemused T'Pol had become it seemed to make it harder for Trip to stop his reaction and she was hit by wave after wave of his uncontrolled mirth. She had reviewed what she had said and was unable to ascertain why it was so humorous. Then T'Pol had started to wonder if the bond was affecting his mind and therefore if it would be dangerous for him to continue to strengthen his link to her.

Trip had finally started to calm himself wiping away the tears that had run down his face; his amusement spent as T'Pol broached her concern.

"You are unwell; perhaps your mind cannot cope with the strengthening of the bond between us. The risk involved in trying to sever…"

Immediately Trip vigorously shook his head, "No, no, NO you don't! You don't get rid of me that easily. My human brain is just fine thanks, I just love that your sweet talk sounds like it came straight from a Vulcan scientific text book."

T'Pol's automatic response of raising her eyebrow quizzically at him had caused Trip more amusement. T'Pol had found it difficult to cope with being subjected to a barrage of wildly different emotions in a matter of minutes; it left her exhausted and exhilarated in equal measure and floundering for equilibrium.

Then Trip had abruptly rocked back on his feet pushing himself up to stand towering above her. It had been the signal that that night's session was at an end although they both knew there were still issues that needed to be addressed. In what T'Pol recognized was becoming a regular pattern they had decided to ignore the problem and slip into a more general and mostly comfortable conversational mode. Although with his very first sentence Trip had managed to confuse her again.

"I've got a real bad case of itchy feet," Trip announced as he sat on the edge of T'Pol's bunk putting back on his socks. After his puzzling admission T'Pol had stared at his feet knowing that he said he always showered and changed his clothing before their sessions so as not to cause offence to her "delicate Vulcan nose". In fact she stared with such intensity Trip had caught on and after giving her an amused grin he explained, "What I mean is I can't wait to hear the hum of the engines under my feet, and to be under way again."

Once that issue was resolved T'Pol had started to clear the mediation area extinguishing each of the three large mediation candles. She then turned round to face Trip who had just finished putting on his t-shirt in readiness to leave. "Trip, your mission tomorrow..."

He had acted quickly obviously hoping to quell any further concern on her part, "There's nothing to worry about; Travis has aced shuttlepod landings on rocks far smaller than this one. And Jon's already given us the "don't do anything stupid" lecture."

"Except I know how much time you spend thinking about me."

"There you go again, all concerned that my poor human mind can't cope!" Trip had laughed out loud and his tone of voice indicated that he was teasing her as he added, "I thought you weren't supposed to listen to my thoughts without me knowing?"

"Believe me, I try not to." T'Pol had replied falling back on her favourite stance of folding her arms across her chest and then arching her eyebrow at him.

Trip had screwed up his eyes and made what T'Pol considered to be his flippant face back at her. Although she had more experience of Human non verbal experience then most Vulcans her interpretation of his physical signals were still most successful when combined with his verbal communication. In this case his light hearted mood was confirmed by his words, "At least I'm not part of your mission. I'd do anything to avoid having to be in the same place as that stupid metallic cube ever again!"

Than after he made some last adjustments to his top smoothing the material down so that it didn't look like it had been hurriedly discarded he had reached out his hand to T'Pol. She had closed the space between them to allow the first two fingers of their hands to touch so that for a brilliant instant they could be one again.

T'Pol had stood stock still afterwards as her mind reeled with the delicious aftershock of a Vulcan kiss.

Then Trip had activated the door and left after winking at her, "Don't worry I'll make sure I'm not seen leaving your quarters."

T'Pol finally dropped her gaze from her reflection. The answer had been staring her in the face all this time. When their minds were linked Trip had said he felt she gave him nothing while what T'Pol was doing was blocking him access to memories he in his haphazard Human way was unconsciously searching for. In particular he was looking for explanations for her behaviour on that night not so long ago when without hesitation she had seduced him. T'Pol knew then with sickening clarity that if she continued to hold back her shameful secrets from Trip; their relationship would begin to weaken. She must be completely honest with him even though this conclusion caused her to feel considerable trepidation. T'Pol resolved that when Trip came to her quarters that evening she would lay all of the facts before him and then await his verdict.

With the matter resolved T'Pol then went to collect the PADD on which she had collated all of the relevant data from her last visit to the planet the crew had taken to calling "Little Earth". She was about to leave for the Shuttle Bay when she felt a tingling sensation run through her mind and with consummate ease she tuned into the bond to hear Trip humming a particularly irritating tune. T'Pol tried to ignore the noise because she had to report for duty but it was so intrusive she had to admit defeat and get Trip's attention.

*Trip*

The noise just got louder and more annoying, *TRIP!*

*T'Pol, you can hear me!*

T'Pol walked over to Trip who was standing surrounded by the intense whiteness of their zone of tranquility. He had a self satisfied grin on his face and was waving frantically at her.

*At least you can now stop making that…terrible noise, you have my attention*

Trip placed his hand on his heart and lurched backwards, pretending to have been mortally offended by T'Pol's assessment of his musical ability.

*Then stop listening or were you checking up on me again?*

T'Pol wondered if she would ever understand this man, her chosen mate. And in particular if she would ever grasp all the subtleties of his odd sense of humour.

*Trip, you made the connection*

*I wanted to see if I could still reach you as we travelled away from Enterprise.*

And then his behaviour made sense to T'Pol; he was playing with their bond. He was behaving in a way that no Vulcan would ever consider appropriate. It would be seen as far too invasive but she understood that he was an engineer who needed to examine and test the mechanism that enabled them to link to each other. As she considered his actions T'Pol found she approved of his game of discovery even though its timing was ill conceived.

*Your experiment was successful*

*Praise indeed, from the Science Officer.*

*Perhaps it should have been conducted at a more appropriate time.*

*I promise that I'm now going to turn my full attention to what I should be doing even though Travis really doesn't need me breathing down his neck. We both know he could pilot the shuttlepod with one hand tied behind his back.*

*Although I accept he is a skilled pilot I doubt that would be feasible. I am however relieved that you will no longer be distracted from your mission by me.*

*Oh T'Pol I'm always going to be distracted by you! You remember to take care too my ashau*

*Ashaya is the correct term to use, my ashaya*

*I stand corrected, my ashaya*

Trip's voice was gentle as he carefully pronounced the Vulcan term, naming T'Pol as his love and he projected his feelings in a smile that lit up his face. They touched fingers via the bond and T'Pol was able to sense treasured bursts of pure electric energy surging between them. Then they turned and walked away from each other as the pristine white faded to be quickly replaced by a thickening and swirling mist.

The link was broken and T'Pol found herself standing alone in her quarters staring out through the port in the direction the Shuttlepod carrying Trip and Travis had taken, although it was already a long way out of sight of the Enterprise. Even though their exchanges were almost always challenging T'Pol found she invariably missed his direct presence in her conscious mind. She could not help wondering if that would be the last time they would converse in such a way. T'Pol had no way of gauging how Trip would react to the revelations she would present him with later that day but she feared his reaction would be an adverse one. Without a priest proficient enough to sever their mate bond Trip could be unwillingly tied to her for the rest of his life. However she had accepted her decision and although it would be difficult she could not deviate from that course of action.

Luckily for T'Pol who had never experienced an inability to meet her exacting Vulcan standards for punctuality until the strengthening of her bond to a certain Chief Engineer, Shuttlepod 2 was late in returning from planet-side. The last rotation of crew on shore leave had spent their final night far away from the main camp site. Unfortunately a sudden and heavy rainstorm meant the crew had to spend an uncomfortable night under canvas and then endure a slow hike back to the pick up point.

As T'Pol approached the Shuttle Bay six crew members emerged through the entrance. They were talking in a loud and animated fashion with each other and although they were mud splattered they seemed more invigorated than downhearted by their experience of inclement weather. As each one of them passed T'Pol they straightened up and acknowledged her position as a senior officer. Then they resumed their excited conversations.

T'Pol was grateful that the crew had been able to find such a safe planet as it was obvious to her that they were benefitting from spending time on its surface. They had recently faced the horror and violence of battle and the loss of comrades so the chance to be in a place where nature held sway had a healing affect on traumatized psyches even if it meant getting soaked to the skin.

Entering the shuttle bay T'Pol walked towards Captain Archer who was standing next to Shuttlepod 2 speaking with Ensign Hoshi Sato. Major Hayes was leaning into the hatch of the shuttlepod handing equipment to a person whose voice she recognized as Lieutenant Reed's. Two MACOs in full kit were keeping out of the way at the back of the shuttle bay, standing at ease, while they awaited the order to board.

"Commander," Archer acknowledged her arrival with a nod. As T'Pol joined them Archer continued, "Hoshi, the scans show that there is a large concentration of Trellium D ore close to the surface of the meteor. I have told Trip and Travis to concentrate on these so they don't have to take any unnecessary risks."

"If they get carried away and start blowing things up I'll remind them of your orders Captain!" Hoshi replied with a smile although her steely determination was evident in her eyes. Hoshi was being left in charge of Enterprise and the co-ordination of the two missions; it was a responsibility she was not about to take lightly.

Although T'Pol's system was completely cleansed of Trellium D, the mere mention of it brought an unwelcome surge of longing which caused a tremor of panic to run through her mind. She knew that it would be much easier for her to live with the echoes of her addiction if the substance was not on the ship.

Knowing that Trellium D was toxic to Vulcan physiology Archer had sought to reassure T'Pol it would be contained securely. He had stressed to her that that he would never have Trellium D on board if there was not a desperate need to have something of value to barter for the vital equipment and supplies they needed. T'Pol had pointed out yet again that logically the ore would be better used to protect Enterprise's hull. Predictably Archer ended that conversation by rejecting her offer to remain behind on their planet base. He had stated firmly that he could not afford to lose any of the crew and in particular her invaluable expertise.

Archer gave Ensign Sato a reassuring smile before dismissing her. However T'Pol could sense that as always he was at his most tense when he felt he was not in control of a situation. T'Pol had been long aware of this flaw in his nature; he had difficulty in delegating tasks to others who were more qualified under his command. In contrast she knew that a Vulcan captain would not hesitate to utilize the skills of his crew to the full, regardless of any risk. Trip and Travis were engaged in a dangerous mission and T'Pol knew Archer was only tagging along on her mission to keep himself busy until the other team had safely returned to Enterprise. T'Pol took comfort from what Archer could not know; Trip was properly rested therefore his ability to work effectively was close to optimum capacity.

T'Pol took her place in the Pod while Reed and Archer started the pre-flight checks. T'Pol remembered that the last time she sat there, Trip had been seated just across from her. Major Hayes was currently occupying that seat and she simply acknowledged his presence with a nod which he returned with a salute before she activated her PADD to review the pertinent data. Major Hayes then continued to discuss tactics with his men who were positioned at the rear of the pod.

Archer who was seated in the pilot's seat turned round to look at her and then he shouted out, "Ready to go check out your anomaly, Commander?"

T'Pol decided a response was not required as Archer had already turned back to prepare for their departure. After serving with humans for almost four years she accepted their need to vocalize pointless remarks. However as the shuttlepod exited Enterprise's shuttle bay she was aware of Trip's influence when she entertained herself by speculating what Archer would have said if she had replied in the negative.

Although their bond was not yet at full strength T'Pol was aware that her mate was travelling further away from her. She felt the loneliness of separation even though the bond remained a constant presence. This was a new anomaly for her to feel but one that was acknowledged in what Vulcan literature existed on the subject. Mate bonds and those between family members were the only acceptable vehicle for the open exchange of emotions. The ties between mates were particularly strong therefore making the physical absence of one member difficult for the other to bear. T'Pol gave up on the pretence that she was taking in any of the information on her PADD and stared out of the viewing port at the planet below her while her thoughts turned to her childhood on Vulcan.

T'Pol had faced constant criticism for her inability to fully control her emotions even as a child. It had been frequently pointed out that her emotions were dangerously close to the surface. T'Pol found it interesting to consider how her acceptance of a relationship with Trip had already changed her. For the first time in her life T'Pol no longer felt ashamed of the strength of the feelings she had previously expended so much time and energy trying to control. She decided there and then that she would fight with every fiber of her being to remain with Trip and to convince him that despite her faults she would be a worthy mate.